Charity to hold all day cyclothon in Colchester gym

Fundraisers from around Colchester will gather on April 16 at the LA Fitness gym on Clarendon Way for a fundraising cyclothon to help raise money for national disability charity United Response.

The charity is holding the 12 hour long cyclothon from 8am to 8pm at the local gym and has already drummed up plenty of support. However, organisers are keen to get as many people as possible to come along and have a go at cycling on one of the gyms exercise bikes.

The event is free to enter and cyclists can set any personal target they like to suite their ability and are being encouraged to ask family and friends to sponsor them. Locals are also being asked to come along and cheer on the many riders and donate whatever they can in a bid to raise as much money as possible.

Riders will be sweating it out to help buy specialist exercise equipment for the charity, which supports people with learning disabilities, mental health needs and physical disabilities across England and Wales.

The idea for the cyclothon was created by local United Response staff member Trudy Kent, who said: “We wanted to raise money to buy specialist exercise equipment for the many people United Response supports in the local area. So what better way than getting people to exercise in order to raise money.”

Trudy added: “I have been training very hard for the cyclothon and can’t wait for April 16. I have been asking all my family and friends to dig deep and donate whatever they can. And hopefully we will all raise loads of money and help improve a lot of lives.”

Trudy also added: “I am sure we will have a big turn out on the day and lots of tired legs. Even if people don’t want to cycle they can come along and lend a hand or even give our cyclists some encouragement.”

Learning Disability Voices and VODG welcome an announcement made by the Government to protect current levels of housing benefit for people with learning disabilities and others living in supported housing.

Learning Disability Voices is extremely disappointed by the Government’s statement today which reinstates enforcement action against employers in the social care sector without having identified how the estimated £400m back-pay liability will be funded.

Easy News is the first news magazine designed to be accessible for people with learning disabilities, aimed to encourage discussion around news stories and keep readers informed about the world around them. Read the latest issue here.

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